--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't ask a guy like me why [I…" description: "\"You can't ask a guy like me why [I performed]. I really wanted to fly through the air. I was a daredevil, a performer. I loved the thrill, the money, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/evel-knievel-5375_adventure_you-can-t-ask-a-guy-like-me-why-i-perfor_1073988.png" --- # You can't ask a guy like me why \[I performed\]. I really… ![“You can't ask a guy like me why [I performed]. I really wanted to fly through the air. I was a daredevil, a performer. I loved the thrill, the money, the whole macho thing. All those things made me Evel Knievel. Sure, I was scared. You gotta be an ass not to be scared. But I beat the hell out of…” quote by Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/evel-knievel-5375_adventure_you-can-t-ask-a-guy-like-me-why-i-perfor_1073988.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/evel-knievel-5375_adventure_you-can-t-ask-a-guy-like-me-why-i-perfor_1073988.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/evel-knievel-5375_adventure_you-can-t-ask-a-guy-like-me-why-i-perfor_1073988.png) > “You can't ask a guy like me why \[I performed\]. I really wanted to fly through the air. I was a daredevil, a performer. I loved the thrill, the money, the whole macho thing. All those things made me Evel Knievel. Sure, I was scared. You gotta be an ass not to be scared. But I beat the hell out of death.” [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes his fearless pursuit of daring stunts, embracing danger as part of his identity and refusing to show fear. **In simple terms:** Embraced danger, never showed fear. Key Takeaway Channel fear into purposeful action. Themes courage risk performance identity Mood adventurous confident intense Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - extreme sports - public performances - career planning - personal challenges - leadership training Key Concepts daredevil mindset masculine bravado risk management Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance risk and safety? - What motivates you to face danger? A Different Perspective Ignoring fear can lead to reckless decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Macho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/macho/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Thrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrill/) ## Related quotes > [My life has been being a daredevil. I am Evel Knievel. I am a daredevil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/my-life-has-been-being-a-daredevil-i-am-evel-knievel-i-am-a-daredevil/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I won't look it in the eye. As soon as I do, I get scared. You gotta walk the plank at some point, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/i-won-t-look-it-in-the-eye-as-soon-as-i-do-i-get-scared-you-gotta/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [“I know you're scared, but you gotta grab hold of yourself. Every time you give in to your fears, you're lettin' that man win.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/i-know-you-re-scared-but-you-gotta-grab-hold-of-yourself-every-time/) [Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/) > [My failures had a lot to do with my fame. I created Evel Knievel, and then he sort of got away from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/my-failures-had-a-lot-to-do-with-my-fame-i-created-evel-knievel-and/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [She (my ex-wife) wanted me to stop being Evel Knievel. I am who I am. I'm not going to change. I'll settle down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/she-my-ex-wife-wanted-me-to-stop-being-evel-knievel-i-am-who-i-am-i-m/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I created Evel Knievel, and then he sort of got away from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-created-evel-knievel-and-then-he-sort-of-got-away-from-me/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I am a guy who is first of all a businessman. I'm not a stunt man. I'm not a daredevil. I'm - I'm an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-am-a-guy-who-is-first-of-all-a-businessman-i-m-not-a-stunt-man-i-m/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I'm not only the best-known daredevil on the face of the earth, I'm the oldest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-m-not-only-the-best-known-daredevil-on-the-face-of-the-earth-i-m/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I think that when Evel Knievel crashed over the fountain at Caesars, it kind of gave you a credibility and then anticipation for everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blaine/i-think-that-when-evel-knievel-crashed-over-the-fountain-at-caesars/) [David Blaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blaine/) > [Evel Knievel bet me $25,000 I couldn't ride a motorcycle 650 miles from Las Vegas to Twin Falls, Idaho.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-riggs/evel-knievel-bet-me-25-000-i-couldn-t-ride-a-motorcycle-650-miles/) [Bobby Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-riggs/) > [My whole goal in life was to reach that certain success where people will say, 'Hey, that guy can do anything. He's the Evel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/my-whole-goal-in-life-was-to-reach-that-certain-success-where-people/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I've just got back from Oklahoma where I was shooting Mat Hoffman's tribute to Evel Knievel. I had a ball, too, even though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-knoxville/i-ve-just-got-back-from-oklahoma-where-i-was-shooting-mat-hoffman-s/) [Johnny Knoxville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-knoxville/) > [I'm grateful for my whole family, but my dad is like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Superman, and Evel Knievel all at one time. I can think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/i-m-grateful-for-my-whole-family-but-my-dad-is-like-obi-wan-kenobi/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [“While the vision he had shown in building Trump Tower remained, the discipline he had summoned to get the skyscraper built evaporated. Emboldened by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-l-o-brien/while-the-vision-he-had-shown-in-building-trump-tower-remained-the/) [Timothy L. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-l-o-brien/) > [To get to wear the costume of Evel Knievel, are you kidding me? When I was a kid, I had Superman. I had Spiderman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eads/to-get-to-wear-the-costume-of-evel-knievel-are-you-kidding-me-when-i/) [George Eads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eads/) ## More by Evel Knievel > [I wish there was such a thing as reincarnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-wish-there-was-such-a-thing-as-reincarnation/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I think if you have ability and talent in one way, you have it in all ways. I'm not a jack of all trades;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-think-if-you-have-ability-and-talent-in-one-way-you-have-it-in-all/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I don't know what in the world happened. I don't know if it was the power of the prayer or God himself, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-don-t-know-what-in-the-world-happened-i-don-t-know-if-it-was-the/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I think through education, belief in God, and good engineering, our children become a lot better at what they're doing than we did, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-think-through-education-belief-in-god-and-good-engineering-our/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I did everything by the seat of my pants. That's why I got hurt so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-did-everything-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-that-s-why-i-got-hurt-so-much/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I recently have had a full hip replacement and a liver transplant, and I'm getting used to the medication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-recently-have-had-a-full-hip-replacement-and-a-liver-transplant-and/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I can't keep track of my hospital time. It all sort of blurs together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-can-t-keep-track-of-my-hospital-time-it-all-sort-of-blurs-together/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I would always rather be in the arena fighting than be a spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-would-always-rather-be-in-the-arena-fighting-than-be-a-spectator/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [You're never a failure until you fail to get up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/you-re-never-a-failure-until-you-fail-to-get-up/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [If you don't know about pain and trouble, you're in sad shape. They make you appreciate life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/if-you-don-t-know-about-pain-and-trouble-you-re-in-sad-shape-they/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I guess I thought I was Elvis Presley but I'll tell ya something. All Elvis did was stand on a stage and play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-guess-i-thought-i-was-elvis-presley-but-i-ll-tell-ya-something-all/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [“When you do what I do for a living you have to have a positive mental attitude; when that positive mental attitude isn't enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/when-you-do-what-i-do-for-a-living-you-have-to-have-a-positive-mental/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [You can't say you're going to jump the Grand Canyon and then jump some other canyon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/you-can-t-say-you-re-going-to-jump-the-grand-canyon-and-then-jump/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [Nothing's worse than a guy who loses fair and square and then whines about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/nothing-s-worse-than-a-guy-who-loses-fair-and-square-and-then-whines/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [The Harley's got a little too much torque when it comes to jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/the-harley-s-got-a-little-too-much-torque-when-it-comes-to-jumping/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) [Explore all 101 Evel Knievel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't ask a guy like me why [I performed]. 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